The Urinary System

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and definitions associated with the urinary system, aiding in exam preparation.

Urinary System

Comprised of kidneys and associated organs responsible for urine production.

Kidneys

Main organ of the urinary system that maintains body’s internal environment.

Ureters

Tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

Urinary Bladder

Muscular sac that stores urine until elimination.

Urethra

Tube that conveys urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by kidneys that regulates red blood cell production.

Renin

An enzyme released by kidneys that regulates blood pressure.

Glomerulus

A network of fenestrated capillaries in the kidney that filters blood.

Filtration

The process of separating liquids from solids in a mixture, primarily in kidneys.

Reabsorption

The process by which the kidneys reclaim water and solutes from filtrate back into the blood.

Tubular Secretion

The process of transferring substances from blood into renal tubules.

Acidosis

Condition in which blood pH drops below normal due to excess hydrogen ions. more acidic 1-7pH

Alkalosis

Condition in which blood pH rises above normal due to excess bicarbonate. more basic 7-14pH

Countercurrent Mechanism

The process by which fluids flow in opposite directions to enhance water and solute reabsorption.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for forming urine.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which filtrate is formed in the kidneys, normal being 120–125 ml/min.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

Hormone that increases water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Aldosterone

Hormone that increases sodium reabsorption and potentiates water reabsorption.

Myogenic Mechanism

Intrinsic control mechanism in kidneys that helps maintain GFR through smooth muscle contraction.

Tubuloglomerular Feedback

A process that adjusts GFR based on sodium chloride concentration in the nephron.

Osmotic Gradient

A gradient created by differing concentrations of solutes, crucial for urine concentration.

Collecting Duct

The segment of the nephron that connects to the ureters and adjusts urine concentration.

Diuretics

Substances that promote increased urine production.

Filtrate

Fluid produced during glomerular filtration, which is essentially blood plasma minus proteins.

Hydrostatic Pressure

The pressure exerted by fluids; influential in glomerular filtration.

Net Filtration Pressure (NFP)

The total pressure that promotes filtration in the kidneys.

Peritubular Capillaries

Small blood vessels surrounding the renal tubules involved in reabsorption.

Renal Autoregulation

The kidney's ability to maintain a stable GFR despite changes in blood pressure.